The Miracle of the Suspended Hosts: A Divine Intervention in Volterra, 1472

The Historical Context

In 1472, during the war between Volterra and Florence, the city of Volterra was sacked by the army of the Duke of Montefeltro. This conflict, known as the Allumiere War, was fueled by social class conflicts and the personal interests of Lorenzo di Medici. The harsh treatment of Volterra by the Florentine state led to the emigration of many wealthy families and the appropriation of their goods at bankruptcy prices.

The Miracle

In this turbulent historical setting, a miraculous event occurred in the Cathedral of Volterra. A Florentine soldier entered the Cathedral and seized a precious ivory ciborium containing numerous consecrated Hosts. Consumed by a fit of fury against the sacramental Jesus, he threw the ciborium against a church wall as soon as he left the building. Miraculously, the Hosts, illuminated by a mysterious light, elevated themselves into the air and remained suspended for a long time. Numerous witnesses were present to attest to this miraculous occurrence.

Witness Accounts

The most authoritative account of this Eucharistic miracle comes from Friar Biagio Lisci, a direct witness whose written testimony is preserved in the archives of the Church of Saint Francis. Municipal records in the library of Volterra also document the event. According to these sources, the soldier, filled with intense hatred, flung the ciborium against the church's external wall. The Hosts emerged from the ciborium and, as if held by an invisible hand, rose into the air, radiant with light. Overwhelmed with fear and repentance, the soldier fell to the ground and began to cry. The event was witnessed by many, who were astonished by the divine intervention.

This miraculous event remains a significant part of Volterra's history, illustrating a moment of divine intervention during a period of intense conflict and upheaval.